2025 NBA Finals: Williams drops 40 to put Thunder one win away from title

It was astir a atrocious lawsuit of deja vu for the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Just 11 days ago, the Thunder dominated the bulk of Game 1 of the NBA Finals wrong Paycom Center, lone to springiness it distant successful the closing moments acknowledgment to Tyrese Haliburton's game-winning elbow jumper.

With the accidental to determination to wrong a azygous triumph of the team's archetypal NBA championship, the aforesaid look appeared to beryllium playing retired successful Game 5 Monday night. The Thunder led by arsenic galore arsenic 18 points, which had dwindled to a 95-93 borderline aft Pascal Siakam -- playing his latest terrific crippled successful these playoffs for the Indiana Pacers -- buried a 3-pointer with 8:30 remaining successful regulation.

But alternatively than letting the crippled gaffe away, Oklahoma City -- similar it did successful the 4th fourth of Game 4 -- buckled down and delivered its latest knockout stroke of these playoffs. With a bid of frenetic antiaircraft plays that person travel to specify this team, positive immoderate singular shotmaking from Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, what could've been a 2nd devastating nonaccomplishment connected their location level successful this bid alternatively became a 120-109 Thunder victory.

The deciding moments of OKC's triumph were played successful the benignant that has led to the Thunder crafting 1 of the large seasons successful NBA history. They forced 1 turnover aft another, flying astir and turning the Pacers' discourtesy into a confused mess. And, astatine the different end, their 2 starring scorers -- Gilgeous-Alexander (31 points) and Williams (40) made each large changeable required down the stretch.

That was successful stark opposition to what was happening astatine the different end. Tyrese Haliburton, dealing with close calf tightness, missed each six tract goals helium took -- and lone attempted 1 successful the 2nd half. The Pacers coiled up with 22 turnovers connected the nighttime for 32 Oklahoma City points, and the Thunder adjacent outshot the Pacers from 3-point range, making 14 to Indiana's 11.

Over the 3 games played successful Oklahoma City, the Thunder person led for 141 of the 144 full minutes. It's been the benignant of power that had been wide expected from the heavily-favored Thunder erstwhile the bid began. Things person looked acold antithetic successful the games successful Indianapolis, wherever the bid volition displacement for Thursday's Game 6. And portion Haliburton's wellness volition loom large, if Oklahoma City tin travel anyplace adjacent to replicating its Game 5 performance, the team's archetypal Larry O'Brien Trophy could yet beryllium successful hand. -- Tim Bontemps

Jump to a game:
Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5

More coverage:
Schedules and results | Offseason guides

(1) Oklahoma City Thunder (4) pb the Indiana Pacers 3-2

play

0:23

Jalen Williams drops successful pugnacious changeable to eclipse 40 points

Jalen Williams crosses the 40-point threshold with this beauteous pull-up jumper.

Game 5: Thunder 120, Pacers 109

Dynamic duo of Williams and SGA leads Thunder offense

This mightiness beryllium remembered arsenic the nighttime that Jalen Williams solidified himself arsenic a superstar.

Williams has elevated into that benignant of territory, earning third-team All-NBA and second-team All-Defense designation successful lone his 3rd season. Yet the doubts astir the Thunder often focused connected whether Williams could beryllium the No. 2 scorer that a title squad needs.

Anyone inactive wondering if that's the case? Williams poured successful a playoff-career-high 40 points successful Game 5 -- nary much important than the 3-pointer helium drilled from the close helping with 8:06 remaining aft the Pacers pulled wrong 2 points. He was 14-of-25 from the floor, 3-of-5 from 3-point scope and had six rebounds, 4 assists and a bargain successful a spectacular all-around outing.

It was the 3rd consecutive crippled that Williams had astatine slightest 25 points and 5 rebounds. The past subordinate nether 25 with that benignant of a streak successful the Finals: Shaquille O'Neal successful 1995, according to ESPN Research.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (31 points, 10 assists, 4 blocks, 2 steals) had different MVP-caliber performance. But his sidekick shone adjacent brighter to assistance enactment the Thunder connected the brink of a title. -- Tim MacMahon

Haliburton struggles stifles Pacers production

The Pacers did not get overmuch accumulation retired of Haliburton, who went backmost to the locker country successful the archetypal 4th and played done a sore close calf. If they are going to travel backmost successful the bid to triumph the championship, they're going to request mode much from their champion player. Haliburton re-aggravated the aforesaid limb that bothered him aft Game 2 erstwhile helium limped distant from the podium with ankle soreness.

Haliburton returned successful the 2nd quarter, wearing a wrapper astir his leg, and played the remainder of the game, but his accumulation was limited. He went scoreless successful the archetypal fractional for the archetypal clip successful his playoff vocation and finished with 4 points -- matching his playoff vocation debased (Game 3 against the Cleveland Cavaliers), connected 0-for-6 shooting. He besides had six assists and 7 rebounds, but it was the archetypal clip successful his playoff vocation helium was held without a tract goal. -- Jamal Collier

What to ticker successful Game 6

If Haliburton is arsenic constricted arsenic helium was Monday, there's lone truthful overmuch Indiana volition beryllium capable to bash with the play connected the line. The Pacers were outscored by 13 points successful Haliburton's 34 minutes of enactment and were lone capable to bent astir into the 4th fourth of Game 5 by virtuousness of 18 points and 4 assists successful 22 minutes from backup constituent defender T.J. McConnell.

Haliburton's wounded underscored however fragile the synergy of Indiana's starting 5 truly is. For Rick Carlisle to play McConnell with Haliburton to foodstuff the offense, arsenic helium tried down double-digits successful the last minutes, means taking 1 of the Pacers' ace helping antiaircraft duo of Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard disconnected the court.

It's possible, depending connected however compromised Haliburton appears during Game 6, that sitting him successful favour of McConnell mightiness beryllium the champion enactment for Indiana. Although the Pacers won't privation to widen McConnell's minutes to the constituent wherever helium can't play with the all-out vigor that makes him effective, they tin besides displacement Nembhard to constituent guard. That would mean much playing clip for Bennedict Mathurin, whose rebounding made an interaction connected a nighttime erstwhile his shots weren't falling.

On the Thunder side, it volition beryllium absorbing to spot however hard Mark Daigneault pushes to adjacent this bid successful Game 6. Again, Daigneault made wide that Alex Caruso is his astir trusted 5th enactment alongside Oklahoma City's 4 accordant starters, bringing him successful for Isaiah Hartenstein little than a infinitesimal into the 2nd half. That radical was connected the tribunal for the 10-0 fourth-quarter tally that sealed the Thunder's victory.

Oklahoma City has mislaid consecutive games conscionable doubly each play and would person home-court vantage for Game 7, meaning the Thunder are successful a commanding presumption either way. But Oklahoma City should attack Game 6 arsenic a must-win to adjacent retired Indiana and debar the hazard of thing happening successful what would beryllium the archetypal NBA Finals Game 7 since 2016, erstwhile the Cavaliers shocked the 73-win Golden State Warriors connected the road. -- Kevin Pelton

Game 4: Thunder 111, Pacers 104

play

1:44

SGA aft Game 4 win: 'We played with desperation'

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander breaks down however the Thunder were capable to instrumentality Game 4 from the Pacers and adjacent up the NBA Finals.

The No. 1-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder person astir gone down 3-1 twice successful these playoffs.

The archetypal clip was Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals, erstwhile the Thunder trailed by 8 points connected the roadworthy successful Denver. Oklahoma City yet rallied to necktie the series, but needed 7 games to outduel Nikola Jokic & Co.

On Friday night, the Thunder recovered themselves successful astir the aforesaid situation: down 7 points to the Indiana Pacers successful Game 4 of the NBA Finals. Once again, OKC survived. But successful retrospect, it's hard to fig retired precisely how.

Oklahoma City, 3-for-17 from 3-point range, was outscored by 24 points from deep. The Thunder finished with much turnovers (13) than assists (10). MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a comparative nonfactor for astir of the game. Coach Mark Daigneault's instrumentality to the two-big lineup didn't work.

But past the Thunder summoned a singular tally with their play connected the line.

OKC changeable 9-for-15 from the tract successful the 4th quarter, outscored the Pacers 31-17, committed a azygous turnover and had 4 violative rebounds successful the last 12 minutes alone. Gilgeous-Alexander, portion failing to registry a azygous assistance successful the game, deed the 2 biggest shots of his beingness connected back-to-back possessions, banging a 3-pointer from the helping and a baseline jumper to enactment Oklahoma City successful beforehand for what turned retired to beryllium the remainder of the crippled with 2:23 to go.

For a uncommon clip successful these playoffs, the Pacers -- the squad whose individuality is making late-game charges and wearing down opponents -- did neither, eerily reminiscent of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks, erstwhile Indiana allowed Karl-Anthony Towns to lucifer its 20 fourth-quarter points by himself, and New York came backmost to triumph the game.

The difference, however, was that the Pacers were up 2-0 successful that bid and got a accidental to spell up 3-1 successful Game 4 astatine location -- which they did.

This time, with a triumph Friday the Pacers would beryllium heading to Oklahoma City for Game 5 with a accidental to bring the Larry O'Brien Trophy to Indiana for the archetypal time. Instead, a aureate accidental slipped done their grasp. And if Oklahoma City goes connected to triumph the NBA title, a full of 24 minutes -- those 12 successful Denver, and these 12 Friday nighttime -- volition beryllium the reasons. -- Tim Bontemps

SGA with a statement: He's the MVP successful this series

Nothing came easy for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder successful Indiana. But they managed to propulsion Game 4 retired of the mud, evening the bid and regaining home-court advantage.

For overmuch of the night, it was a chore for Gilgeous-Alexander conscionable to get the ball, overmuch little marque thing hap erstwhile helium had it. Oklahoma City had been outscored by 16 points during Gilgeous-Alexander's 29 minutes done 3 quarters. The Thunder trailed by 7 entering the fourth, a frightening concern against an Indiana squad that was 9-1 successful clutch games this postseason.

But the MVP delivered erstwhile the Thunder needed it most, conscionable similar helium did successful Game 4 successful Denver, erstwhile Oklahoma City evened that second-round bid earlier winning successful seven.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of his 35 points successful the 4th quarter. That included 11 successful the last 2:58, nary much important than his off-dribble baseline step-back jumper to springiness Oklahoma City the pb for bully with 2:23 left. It was the benignant of tough, gritty show that makes champions -- and legacies. -- Tim MacMahon

Counting connected repeated clutch magic is not sustainable -- particularly against OKC

​​With 3:20 near successful the 4th quarter, the Pacers went up 103-99 connected a Tyrese Haliburton layup -- and a squad that has been truthful bully successful the clutch each postseason looked primed to prehend power of this series.

But the Thunder's historically stingy defence turned up erstwhile they needed it most, and it saved their season. The Pacers scored a single constituent the remainder of the game. The Thunder contested 83% of shots successful the 4th quarter, according to ESPN Research, and the Pacers were outscored successful the play 31-17.

It spoiled what had been a superb antiaircraft crippled for Indiana, which turned Oklahoma City into an iso-heavy discourtesy for astir of the way. The Pacers constricted the Thunder to 3-for-17 shooting from 3 and made beingness highly hard for the league's MVP, who was held without an assist.

Asked postgame however the squad fought back, Gilgeous-Alexander said simply, "It starts with stops." -- Jamal Collier

What to ticker for successful Game 5

Game 5: Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)

After returning to the starting lineup the Thunder utilized implicit the archetypal 3 rounds of the playoffs, manager Mark Daigneault mightiness beryllium looking astatine different alteration for Game 5 contempt evening the series.

Starting Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren unneurotic yet showed wherefore Daigneault went distant from that duo preemptively. Oklahoma City was outscored with its starters connected the tribunal successful some halves, and Daigneault had a speedy hook for the radical successful the 3rd quarter. With the Thunder's play connected the line, helium alternatively went to what has been their champion lineup each season, with Alex Caruso successful spot of Hartenstein alongside the starters.

All Caruso did was people 20 points connected 7-of-9 shooting with 5 steals. Oklahoma City was plus-14 successful his 30 minutes of action. Daigneault hasn't been shy astir going to Caruso to commencement 2nd halves, akin to his important games against the Denver Nuggets (Game 7) and Minnesota Timberwolves (Game 4). With a maximum of 3 games near successful the bid -- and play -- there's nary crushed to prevention Caruso.

With 2 days disconnected betwixt games now, I fishy the Thunder tin besides bash much to unlock Gilgeous-Alexander successful an off-ball relation with Andrew Nembhard relentlessly supplying unit erstwhile helium brings the shot upcourt. It took heroic shotmaking for Gilgeous-Alexander to triumph the crippled for Oklahoma City down the stretch. More off-ball screens to effort to shingle Nembhard disconnected Gilgeous-Alexander, oregon dribble handoffs to get him the shot with a caput of steam, could make easier opportunities.

It's somewhat much challenging to find adjustments for the Pacers, who seemed to person their crippled program dialed successful overmuch of the night. Flipping the script, it was Indiana that seemed to tyre precocious successful Game 4, erstwhile the team's 3-pointers dried up. The Pacers missed each 8 long-distance attempts successful the 4th fourth aft shooting 39% (11-of-28) implicit the archetypal 3 quarters. And Bennedict Mathurin's missed escaped throws successful the last infinitesimal stalled Indiana's anticipation of different precocious comeback.

Rick Carlisle made extended usage of his bench, arsenic nary starter played much than 36 minutes. It's hard to chalk up the Pacers' late-game drought to thing much than the elite level the Thunder tin get to defensively and atrocious timing for a squad that has been astir cleanable successful that concern during the postseason. We'll spot whether Indiana tin highest precocious again successful Game 5. -- Kevin Pelton

Game 3: Pacers 116, Thunder 107

play

1:09

Mathurin tells SVP however helium prepares from the bench

Bennedict Mathurin joins Scott Van Pelt to explicate however helium mentally prepares from the seat aft helium enactment up 27 points successful the Pacers' Game 3 triumph implicit OKC.

At halftime of Game 3 of the NBA Finals connected Wednesday night, a longtime NBA scout texted 1 sentence:

"This is the archetypal crippled that's felt similar a Finals game."

Yes, the bid arrived successful the Hoosier State tied astatine a crippled apiece acknowledgment to Indiana Pacers constituent defender Tyrese Haliburton's superb infinitesimal astatine the extremity of Game 1. But the Oklahoma City Thunder had led for 94 of the archetypal 96 minutes of the bid and looked each spot the dense favourite they were billed arsenic erstwhile the bid began.

Then Game 3 happened. And, aft a sensational show by the Pacers successful beforehand of their location fans, the effect was a precise deserved 116-107 triumph -- and, with it, a 2-1 lead.

As a result, for the archetypal time, this NBA Finals genuinely feels similar a series.

The Pacers took it to the Thunder successful galore ways. They got a sensational show from Haliburton, who, aft a brace of middling stat lines successful Oklahoma City, enactment unneurotic a 22-point, 9-rebound, 11-assist masterpiece that saw each of his flair and showmanship instrumentality astatine the champion imaginable time.

The Pacers, arsenic they person passim this playoff run, got sensational play from their bench. Bennedict Mathurin had 27 points -- outscoring the Thunder's 2nd portion by himself -- portion T.J. McConnell had 10 points, 5 rebounds and 5 steals, including a brace of buckets successful speedy succession aboriginal successful the 4th quarter, sandwiched astir stealing a momentum-shifting inbounds pass.

The Pacers won this crippled without going chaotic from the 3-point line, which the accepted contented assumed they would request to bash to triumph games successful this series, and similar they did successful Game 1. The Thunder outshot them (10 makes to 9) from heavy successful Game 3.

This conscionable became the latest illustration of Indiana imposing its volition connected its opponents. The Pacers had already gone done Giannis Antetokounmpo's Milwaukee Bucks, a 64-win Cleveland Cavaliers squad and a beardown New York Knicks squad, with comebacks highlighting each of those series.

But what those bid person besides shown repeatedly is that erstwhile Indiana gets its opponents successful a blender, teams person occupation keeping up. The Thunder, usually the champion squad astatine taking attraction of the ball, gave it distant 19 times successful Game 3, including six turnovers by MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Pacers swarmed Thunder large antheral Chet Holmgren late, repeatedly causing him to thrust blindly into the defence and creating a bid of disfigured Thunder possessions.

And, for the latest clip successful these playoffs, it was a furious decorativeness from the Pacers -- a 32-18 tally successful the 4th -- that led to an Indiana win, bringing the franchise wrong 2 victories of its archetypal NBA title up of Friday's Game 4. -- Tim Bontemps

Pacers' seat delivers large clip connected offense

The Pacers needed much foodstuff connected discourtesy heading into Game 3, and they recovered it successful an unexpected place: a 47-point outburst from their seat portion led by Mathurin and McConnell.

Indiana got improvements from its stars, particularly Haliburton, who finished with 22 points and 10 assists, but the combined vigor from the seat portion wholly flipped the crippled during a 40-point 2nd quarter, giving Indiana its archetypal halftime pb of the series.

Even erstwhile the Thunder made a tally to retake the pb successful the third, it was the Pacers' seat that continued to beryllium a spark. Mathurin scored a team-high 25 points, the astir disconnected the seat successful a Finals crippled since Jason Terry successful 2011, portion McConnell enactment up 10 points, 5 assists and 5 steals. -- Jamal Collier

Holmgren struggles to find violative flow

Holmgren dominated the archetypal quarter, scoring 13 points connected 4-of-5 shooting and snaring 4 rebounds. However, it was a flash and not thing the 7-footer could sustain.

Holmgren scored lone 7 points connected 2-of-10 shooting the remainder of the game. On a precocious possession erstwhile Oklahoma City desperately needed a basket, Holmgren had a 3-pointer from the near helping stuffed by Pacers large antheral Myles Turner and was past denied again by Turner connected a driving layup.

Holmgren was 1-of-5 successful the 4th quarter, erstwhile the Thunder's discourtesy stalled, scoring lone 18 points. Then again, MVP Gilgeous-Alexander wasn't immoderate amended successful the last frame, generating lone 3 changeable attempts and hitting one.

Thunder manager Mark Daigneault has mostly stayed distant from the two-big lineup Oklahoma City started successful each crippled during its tally done the Western Conference. The anticipation was that Holmgren, a large antheral with immoderate defender skills, would person the vantage erstwhile defended by a center. That has seldom been the lawsuit truthful acold successful the Finals. -- Tim MacMahon

Game 2: Thunder 123, Pacers 107

play

1:58

SGA shines with 34 points successful Game 2 win

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander puts successful 34 points arsenic the Thunder bounce backmost and instrumentality Game 2.

Coming into Game 2 of the NBA Finals, the evident question was however this young Oklahoma City squad would respond to its fourth-quarter illness successful Game 1. Would the Thunder respond with a blowout arsenic they did pursuing Game 1 against the Denver Nuggets? Or would they perchance travel the Cleveland Cavaliers' and New York Knicks' example, and let the Indiana Pacers to bargain yet different 2-0 pb connected the road?

The last scoreboard work 123-107, but successful reality, Sunday night's Game 2 was decided acold sooner. This was precisely the effect you'd expect from a squad that has present spent the past 8 months establishing itself arsenic a perchance all-time large squad.

The league's Most Valuable Player, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, looked similar it successful Game 2, bouncing backmost from a starring relation successful that Game 1 illness with a stellar all-around performance. Chet Holmgren, who struggled successful the bid opener, instantly acceptable the code successful the archetypal 4th of Game 2, scoring 9 speedy points and making aggregate interaction plays defensively.

Thunder manager Mark Daigneault, who caught immoderate predictable (if besides misguided) disapproval for changing his starting lineup successful Game 1, stuck with it successful Game 2 portion besides making immoderate subtle -- but effectual -- changes, including playing some large men, Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein, connected the tribunal unneurotic and going distant from the minutes for rookie defender Ajay Mitchell.

The Thunder erstwhile again throttled the high-octane Pacers offense, preventing immoderate Indiana subordinate from scoring 20 points for a 2nd consecutive game. This was a commanding show -- 1 that should beryllium expected from a squad that won 68 games and outscored its opponents by 12.7 points per 100 possessions successful the regular season.

But the Pacers person spent the full postseason proving they cannot beryllium counted out. Oklahoma City tin person acold stretches shooting the ball, arsenic it did successful the 2nd fractional of Game 1, and Indiana volition surely beryllium boosted by hosting its archetypal Finals games successful a 4th period aboriginal this week.

But connected Sunday night, the Thunder showed wherefore they entered the Finals arsenic decisive favorites. And, successful this series' biggest infinitesimal yet, this young radical had an highly mature response. -- Bontemps

MVP SGA delivers for the Thunder's offense

After Haliburton and the Pacers stole Game 1, Oklahoma City needed its MVP to answer. Gilgeous-Alexander delivered with the benignant of calm, controlled dominance that has travel to beryllium expected of him.

Gilgeous-Alexander scored 38 points successful the bid opener, but helium needed 30 shots to bash it. His 34 points successful Game 2 came with his routinely fantabulous efficiency: 11-of-21 from the level and 11-of-12 from the line.

It was besides a terrific passing show by the superstar. Gilgeous-Alexander had 8 assists and plentifulness of different astute passes retired of double-teams that started beauteous sequences of shot question which resulted successful unfastened looks for teammates.

It's hard to bushed the Thunder erstwhile Gilgeous-Alexander plays astatine this level. -- MacMahon

Pacers request Haliburton to find his rhythm

The recognition goes to the Thunder's defence due to the fact that Indiana's discourtesy struggled to find a bushed for astir of the game. The Pacers scored conscionable 41 points successful the archetypal fractional and changeable 35% from the tract -- 1 of their worst violative performances of the postseason -- putting them successful a heavy shortage they couldn't ascent retired of this time. It's nary coincidence the Pacers were constricted connected discourtesy connected a quiescent nighttime from Haliburton, who scored 17 points with six assists aft hitting a fewer baskets successful the 4th quarter. He besides committed 5 turnovers, his astir successful immoderate crippled this play (regular oregon postseason).

Haliburton deed the clutch changeable astatine the extremity of Game 1, but the Thunder person done a bully occupation of limiting his accumulation successful the bid portion holding him to 31 points combined successful 2 games. As the bid shifts to Indiana, the Pacers volition request to find much ways to support Haliburton progressive successful their offense, which is important to that portion functioning astatine its highest potential. -- Collier

Game 1: Pacers 111, Thunder 110

play

2:05

Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Game Highlights

Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder: Game Highlights

For the archetypal 47 minutes, 40 seconds of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander thoroughly outplayed Tyrese Haliburton successful a matchup of prima constituent guards.

But arsenic Pacers manager Rick Carlisle said aft Indiana's singular comeback to bushed the New York Knicks successful Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals: It's a 48-minute game. And, successful those last 20 seconds Thursday night, Haliburton and the Pacers changed the communicative ... again.

First, it was Gilgeous-Alexander -- who had 38 points but was 14-for-30 shooting -- missing a cleanable midrange jumper, his specialty, that would've fixed the Thunder a three-point pb with 10 seconds left. And then, it was Haliburton again playing the relation of roadworthy spoiler, hitting a circus changeable that mightiness not person been quite arsenic spectacular arsenic his high-bouncing occurrence astatine Madison Square Garden connected May 21. But, dissimilar that shot, this changeable won the crippled for the Pacers successful regulation.

As a result, Indiana -- which ne'er led until Haliburton's changeable from conscionable wrong the 3-point arc dropped done with 0.3 seconds near -- someway near the Paycom Center with a 111-110 triumph implicit the heavy favored Thunder, and injected a monolithic magnitude of beingness into this series.

For overmuch of Game 1, the Thunder were dictating the presumption of engagement. They forced Indiana -- typically large astatine taking attraction of the shot -- into a squad that was flinging the shot each implicit the spot for 24 turnovers, compared to lone six for Oklahoma City.

The Thunder took 16 much shots than the Pacers, but the Pacers deed 18 3-pointers -- including 6-for-10 successful the 4th fourth -- and the Thunder, arsenic they are prone to do, missed a full clump of them (11-for-30). That allowed Indiana -- a squad that has pulled disconnected 1 singular comeback aft different successful these playoffs -- to find itself successful premier presumption again.

And, arsenic helium has truthful galore times successful these playoffs, Haliburton delivered.

There are inactive plentifulness of reasons to deliberation Oklahoma City is the deserved favourite successful this series. But the 2nd fractional of Thursday's crippled revealed a blueprint: The Pacers took acold amended attraction of the ball, and their high-octane discourtesy took off. Oklahoma City, meanwhile, got into a rut offensively, and Gilgeous-Alexander had a mates of captious misses successful the closing moments.

Because of it, arsenic they did successful some the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Eastern Conference finals successful New York, the Pacers person claimed a Game 1 roadworthy victory.

And, arsenic a result, we person ourselves a series. -- Bontemps

The Thunder request 48 minutes of their NBA-best defense, not 24

The archetypal fractional displayed the Thunder's antiaircraft fury astatine its finest, forcing 19 turnovers portion holding the Pacers to 45 points. But it didn't clasp up successful the 2nd half.

Maybe it conscionable took the Pacers a mates of quarters to set to the Thunder's antiaircraft pressure, but Indiana looked comfy aft halftime, putting up 66 points successful the 2nd fractional -- 35 successful the 4th quarter, punctuated by Haliburton's winning changeable -- to propulsion disconnected the upset.

Indiana besides had lone 5 turnovers successful the 2nd half, playing their benignant of fast-paced, under-control offense. -- MacMahon

A caller usher to different ridiculous Pacers comeback: chopped the turnovers

If this postseason has taught america anything, it's that the Pacers tin ne'er beryllium counted out. After trailing by 15 points successful the 4th quarter, Indiana stormed backmost to instrumentality Game 1 connected yet different winning changeable by Haliburton with 0.3 seconds remaining, the Pacers' lone lead.

It has go a bid staple for the Pacers during this postseason run: a fourth-quarter Game 1 comeback that has demoralized each of their erstwhile 3 opponents.

Indiana's comeback this clip was fueled by its accustomed suspects, immoderate clutch 3-point shots from Myles Turner, Obi Toppin and Aaron Nesmith, and taking amended attraction of the shot aft record-setting 19 turnovers successful the archetypal half.

And then, of course, Haliburton deed different large changeable to seal the deal. -- Collier